Author's Note: Okay, I happened to be reading through the reviews (and thank you to those who did) and there was something that kind of made me a little mad. Look, I don't care if you don't like the story, but that doesn't give you the right tell someone to completely stop what they're doing, tear down all of their hard work and just give up on that story. I know many may disagree with me, but all I ask is that you pick out my flaws in the story so I can make it better instead of shooting me, or anyone similar to me, down. Look, I'm really trying my best here and I can't read the audience's mind. Help me help you enjoy it. Thank you.

Author Note 1 ½: This goes out to the people who are currently being squashed down, instead of helped up.

Disclaimer: I don't own FF7, just anything outside of the game I own. Naturally.

Part 6

A week later…

"Tifa, Sigmund and I will be taking Marlene and Denzel to the park. Do you want to come too?"

Selena and Tifa hadn't been on good terms lately dating back to that incident that occurred a week ago. Tifa quietly shook her head as she continued washing the dishes. Selena and Sigmund looked at each other.

"Whatever happened between you two, I'm not involved." He growled quietly to her before turning on heel to leave. Selena gave Tifa one last look before following after Sigmund. She was confused by this woman. Was it wrong for the goddess to intervene like she did? Perhaps, but she couldn't let Yuffie be strangled by female martial artist.

"Sigmund…Do you think I was wrong to interfere?"

"Selena, if you remember correctly…YOU KNOCKED ME OUT!!"

Selena ran a finger in her ear and shook off the ringing in her ears.

"You don't need to shout, ya know." She growled and Sigmund rolled his eyes.



"Yeah, yeah, whatever…Anyways, as far as I'm concerned a goddess can do no wrong. She only acts by her instincts. That day was just a day of protecting people." He said quietly, his icy blue eyes darting about and a frown creeping into his countenance.

"What's wrong?"

Sigmund shook his head. Even if he was feeling bad vibes, he wouldn't spoil Selena's day.

"Nothing…C'mon, the kids are getting too far ahead." He grinned and took her hand as they ran after the giggling children.

Meanwhile…

The bar was silent. The kids, Selena and Sigmund were gone. Cloud was off making his deliveries and Faera was upstairs sleeping soundly. Tifa sighed. Being alone a lot was definitely not fun.

I guess I should've went with Selena and the others…Ya know what? I think I'll go! Forget the dishes today!

A triumphant smile graced the young woman's face as she unceremoniously dropped the shot glass into the sink without a second thought. She threw down the dish towel and went upstairs to check up on Faera. Just as she was upstairs, the bell on the front door rang.

Great…customers…well, I'll just have to tell them we're closed…

Or so she thought.

She went back down stairs and just as she started to say "We're closed," a pair of strong hands grabbed her. They had returned.

"Listen…We're tired and very hungry. We'd prefer it if you cooperated, human." Said a man garbed in crimson armor. Tifa recognized him immediately. He was one of the men (or were they wolves?) who tried to kill Faera and Selena. Tifa wrenched her arm from him, pushed him back and performed a round house kick sending him sprawling into a nearby table.

Two more rushed at her and just as they approached close enough to be struck down, they shifted into wolf form.

Damn!



The wolves pinned her down. Tifa lay face to face with them standing over her, their eyes showing mockery and malice. It was very rare that Tifa Lockhart was afraid of animals, but this wasn't the case. They were neither men, nor animals. They were monsters out for blood.

"Lucifer! Scythe! Mason! Heel!" barked a feminine voice.

The wolves' ears flattened back as they slowly back tracked off from Tifa. What was going on? Tifa sat up and clutched her arm to staunch the blood seeping out as she watched the beasts sit at the side of an elegantly dressed woman. She sat quietly at one of the tables, her long talon-esque nails clicking against the surface in a bored, yet intrigued manner. Her skin matched that of moonbeams: pale and soft on the eyes. Her lips as crimson as the blood dripping from Tifa's arm and the thing that scared Tifa about this woman were her eyes. They were dark and shone with deadly malice that over shadowed the woman's smile.

"You are the bartender of this establishment I presume?" her voice had a dark angelic ring to it.

Tifa slowly got to her feet and glared at the woman.

"If you wanted a drink so bad, you could've just asked." Tifa seethed, but the woman's smile was still intact.

"I suppose I could have, but then I wouldn't have gotten a show, which by the way, the performance was pathetic. Show business is definitely not your style."

"That was just the first act. Prepare yourself for act two!"

Tifa flew at her and the wolves were on their feet, but it was to Tifa's surprise the woman suddenly vanished with a swish of her long kimono sleeve. Tifa came to a halt and was about to flip back when someone grabbed her by the hair of the head and gave a malevolent yank bank. The woman towered over Tifa as she lowered her head until her lips just barely brushed against Tifa's ear. The venomous hiss that escaped past her crimson lips sent terrified chills down her spine.

"Was that the best you can do little mortal? If that's the case, I could kill you without even trying. But if I did, what would poor Cloud do if he found his little lovebird broken and bleeding?"

"ARTEMIA!! LEAVE HER ALONE!!"

Tifa could just barely turn her head, but from the corner of her eye, she could just make out flaming red hair. Artemia gave a small pompous laugh before thrusting Tifa away from her.



"Ah, the phoenix has decided to stick her beak in. How lovely…"

Faera motioned Tifa to her side and hissed "Tifa, get over here. Hurry up."

Tifa obeyed and was at Faera's side in an instant.

"Faera, who is this woman?"

"A damn Moon witch, nothing more."

Suddenly, chains shot up from the floor and ensnared the red head. Faera struggled and Tifa pulled, but it was no use. The magic used was too powerful to break.

"I am your superior and you are nothing more than a lowly Summon, never forget that. Now bow and beg for forgiveness, you worthless pincushion." Artemia was no longer smiling. All attempts of looking friendly vanished and in its place stood a stoic expression as she watched without feeling the slightest bit of pity as Faera suffered from an internal battle. Faera slowly, shakily began to bow.

"FAERA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Tifa screamed, trying to make the woman stop bowing.

"I can't help it, Tifa! It's in a Summon's nature to fulfill the wish of the most dominant god or goddess in the area. " she wept bitterly and Tifa was on her feet.

"You bitch…YOU HORRIBLE, LOATHSOME BITCH!!" Tifa screamed and charged. Artemia welcomed the challenge and dodged the incoming fist. She lashed out, grabbed Tifa's arm and brutally flung the bar tender into the wall, which cracked and splintered due the impact.

"You honestly don't know who I am, do you? I am Artemia, the Moon goddess and your very demise." Artemia turned to her henchmen and snapped a finger. They transformed back into their human forms and restrained Tifa. While they struggled to keep the poor bartender subdued, Artemia pulled a vial out from the bosom of her gown. She pulled out the cork and slowly descended upon Tifa.

With a lovely pale hand, she lifted Tifa's face to her own and said softly "Yes…Yes, the darkness has tainted your heart…The fear, the selfishness of your love will be your undoing Tifa Lockhart. Just think about it…Once you hand Selena over to me, you can have Cloud all to yourself. He will want no one but you and you alone."

"TIFA DON'T DRINK IT!! SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OU-AUGH!!"



Another chain shot out and found itself wrapped tightly about Faera's throat, choking her into silence. Artemia did not take her eyes off from the barmaid.

"If you value Faera's life, you'll take this potion without struggle. Refuse me and the phoenix will die. No questions asked."

What choice did Tifa have now? Tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked into the eyes of the enemy.

"Why?...Why are you doing this? What could have Selena done that would make you want to kill her?"

The moon goddess gave a dark grin before saying "She was born." Without another word, Artemia popped the vial into Tifa's mouth and tilted her head back. When the last of the contents was gone, she and her cronies released Tifa, who fell to the floor unconscious.

"My work here is complete. Grab the bird. She and I have much to discuss." She ordered and with the unconscious Faera in their grasp, they left the woeful bar.

A couple hours later…

"Tifa! We're back!...What the…?"

Selena held the children back as they walked into the trashed bar.

"Wha-What happened?! Tifa?! Tifa?! Where are you?!" Marlene began to cry as she struggled in the protective Selena's grasp.

"Wait, right here."

"But Sigmund-"

Sigmund turned into a large silver wolf and began to sniff the battle ground. Selena watched as his ears folded back and all of a sudden, he started backtracking and whining profusely.

"Sigmund? Sigmund, who was here?"

Sigmund shook his head and answered "Selena…She was here…"

"Oh no…Oh no…" she quickly turned to the children and started to pull away, motioning for them to stay where they were. She dashed off and started looking for Tifa and Faera.



"Tifa?! Faera?! Where are you-oof!!"

Selena tripped over something and she sat up to see what it was: a pair of shoe clad feet. Selena got up and warily looked behind the counter. She breathed a sigh of relief. If Tifa was here, then Faera must be here too, right?

Selena knelt down and gave Tifa a shake.

"Tifa…Tifa wake up…Please answer me…"

Tifa's chocolate eyes fluttered open and she slowly sat up, turning her gaze on Selena.

"Ow…my head…" she groaned as she tried to stand up. Selena placed her hands on Tifa's shoulder and gave her small shakes.

"Tifa what happened? Is Faera still here?"

"Selena…"

"What Sigmund?"

"…They took Faera…"

Author Note #2: I know it's been a little slow in couple of chapters and this one has action(or it should) like some of you requested. I also apologize if this was shorter than usual. .

P.S.: Sorry about sounding like a total bitch at the beginning, but I loathe that kind of attitude people take against someone who's really trying and probably struggling. Don't be afraid to help out those who are having a rough time. Please…that is all I ask of you. Thanks.